Some interesting recently published research suggests that a topical ibuprofen gel, such as found in Nurofen Gel, is capable of limiting a facial flush.

Research undertaken by Professor Peter Drummond has recorded preliminary results that show that applying ibuprofen gel stopped the increase in blood flow to the face that results from exercise or embarrassment.

It appears that topical ibuprofen is a safe treatment option to limit facial flushing.

Professor Drummond is known to the members of the online rosacea community from his interview on Rosacea and the Sympathetic Nervous System.

Topical ibuprofen inhibits blushing during embarrassment and facial flushing during aerobic exercise in people with a fear of blushing

Peter D. Drummond, Kate Minosora, Gretta Little, Wendy Keay, School of Psychology and Exercise Science, Murdoch University, Perth, 6150 Western Australia

The flush that develops during whole-body heat stress depends partly on prostaglandins production in the skin.

Variations in the strength of this local mechanism may contribute to individual differences in susceptibility to blushing and associated anxiety.

To investigate this in the present study, the anti-inflammatory agent ibuprofen (which blocks prostaglandins formation) was applied topically to a small area of the cheek in 16 participants with a fear of blushing and in another 14 without this fear.

Changes in skin blood flow were monitored at the ibuprofen-treated site and at a mirror image control site while participants sang (to induce embarrassment and blushing) and during aerobic exercise (to induce flushing).

The topical ibuprofen treatment inhibited increases in cheek blood flow in both groups during both of these tasks. However, increases in cheek blood flow were greater in participants with high than low fear of blushing immediately after exercise.

These findings suggest that prostaglandins contribute to dilatation of facial blood vessels both during emotional arousal (embarrassment) and aerobic exercise. Furthermore, fear of blushing may be associated with mechanisms that delay the resumption of normal vascular tone after a period of vasodilatation.

Whether topical ibuprofen gel is suitable for intermittent or long-term use as an aid for blushing control requires further investigation.

Extended Conclusion

Nevertheless [the study deficiencies], the findings provide preliminary support for a pharmacological approach to blushing control that might be relevant not only for people who are frightened of blushing but also for inflammatory dermatological conditions such as rosacea.

As topical ibuprofen gel is associated with only minor side effects (Massey et al., 2010), it may be suitable both for intermittent and long-term use as an aid for blushing control. In particular, knowing that ibuprofen suppresses blushing might help people who are frightened of blushing engage in social encounters that they otherwise would have avoided. This could provide an opportunity to habituate to anxiety-provoking cues and allow the fear of blushing to subside.

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